The acceptability and utility of parental guidance on weight-talk with children for general practitioners: a qualitative study

Background: Childhood overweight and obesity rates are rising globally, yet many healthcare professionals and parents worry that raising the issue could harm children's wellbeing. New, evidence-informed guidance for parents on constructive ways to talk to children about their weight has been created to address these concerns. General practitioners (GPs) are important in providing and endorsing this guidance, as part of broader efforts to support families. Aim: To explore the acceptability and usability of this novel guidance from the perspective of general practice. Design & setting: A qualitative study with GPs in the Republic of Ireland. Method: Semi-structured interviews with practising GPs were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Results: 15 GPs (ten male, five female) participated. Three key themes were identified. Theme 1 explored how the guidance was deemed to be useful in overcoming perceived barriers to having conversations with parents about their child's weight. Participants believed it would be effective in reducing stigma, promoting conversations and providing a framework to the consultation. Theme 2 explored how the guidance could be integrated into practice, supporting an individualised and patient-centred approach. Theme 3 explored the need for a multidisciplinary approach to the complex area of supporting children with overweight and obesity, and the need to focus on consistent evidence-based information. Conclusion: The guidance was perceived as acceptable, relevant, and useful. GPs felt that evidence-based resources, like this, are needed to provide consistent and accurate information for children and parents with regards to the management of overweight and obesity.